City considers using taxpayer money to remedy potentially dangerous situation

By Lauren Baheri

Published: Saturday, August 9, 2014 at 11:56 AM.

Lowell is considering using taxpayer money to remedy a potentially dangerous situation at a local retirement community. City Council will broach the issue Monday.

Residents at Magnolia Place, a retirement community on Owens Court, say an unfinished retaining wall has posed a threat to homes in the community since the developer went out of business several years ago.

The developer, Evergreen Development Group of Lowell Inc., pulled out of the community without finishing the second phase of construction. A wall of dirt behind some of the homes was left without any kind of support.

David Turner, the homeowners association director, and several other residents have repeatedly approached City Council to step in and fix the wall.

To do that, City Council changed a portion of the nuisance ordinance so that it would allow the city to step in. But that’s only if the wall is deemed dangerous and if the city has the means to fix the problem.

Lowell council members will vote Monday on hiring an engineer to assess the situation and determine whether the wall of dirt is indeed dangerous.

Mayor Larry Simonds this week called a special meeting ahead of the regularly scheduled meeting to address the issue at Magnolia Place. Not enough council members showed up to create a quorum so no formal meeting was held, said City Manager Al Greene.

Lowell is considering using taxpayer money to remedy a potentially dangerous situation at a local retirement community. City Council will broach the issue Monday.

Residents at Magnolia Place, a retirement community on Owens Court, say an unfinished retaining wall has posed a threat to homes in the community since the developer went out of business several years ago.

The developer, Evergreen Development Group of Lowell Inc., pulled out of the community without finishing the second phase of construction. A wall of dirt behind some of the homes was left without any kind of support.

David Turner, the homeowners association director, and several other residents have repeatedly approached City Council to step in and fix the wall.

To do that, City Council changed a portion of the nuisance ordinance so that it would allow the city to step in. But that’s only if the wall is deemed dangerous and if the city has the means to fix the problem.

Lowell council members will vote Monday on hiring an engineer to assess the situation and determine whether the wall of dirt is indeed dangerous.

Mayor Larry Simonds this week called a special meeting ahead of the regularly scheduled meeting to address the issue at Magnolia Place. Not enough council members showed up to create a quorum so no formal meeting was held, said City Manager Al Greene.